16. Lucinda

16

LUCINDA

L ucinda leaned against the kitchen counter, fingers tracing the rim of her coffee mug, lost in thought. Two weeks had passed since she and Becky had agreed to give their relationship another chance, but this time, they were taking it slow. Really slow. After everything that had happened—the breakup, the time apart, the awkward reunion—they both knew they needed to rebuild what they had piece by piece, not rush headfirst into something fragile.

Becky had always been the kind of person to act decisively, her life as a firefighter shaping her into someone who thrived in high-pressure situations. She was used to making quick decisions, running into burning buildings without hesitation, and sorting out the chaos later. In their relationship, it had been no different. When they'd first fallen for each other, things had moved fast. Lucinda had been swept up in the intensity, in the warmth of Becky’s love and certainty. But as the months went on, Lucinda had pulled back, scared of how fast her world was spinning out of control.

She sipped her coffee, the warmth of it spreading through her, grounding her in the present. These last two weeks had been different. There was a quietness now, a patience that hadn’t been there before. They hadn’t talked about the future, hadn’t made any grand declarations or plans. It was like they were learning each other all over again—cautious, tentative, but with the same magnetic pull they’d always had.

Lucinda smiled faintly, remembering the first time they’d seen each other after agreeing to start over. It had been a simple meeting: coffee at the same café they had broken things off. Becky had been nervous, which was unusual for her. Her hands had fidgeted with her cup, her usual easy confidence replaced with an uncertainty that made Lucinda’s heart ache.

“How are you feeling about all this?” Becky had asked, her voice low and hesitant .

Lucinda had taken a breath before answering. “I don’t want to mess this up again.”

That had been the theme since then—honesty. They were careful with each other. It was as though they both knew how fragile they were, how easily everything could break if they pushed too hard, too fast.

They had been spending more time together, but it wasn’t like before. Instead of passionate nights spent tangled in each other’s arms, they were rediscovering the small things, sharing quiet dinners, going for walks, and talking about their days. It wasn’t the whirlwind romance it had once been. It was easy, deliberate, intentional.

Lucinda set her mug down, thinking about last night. Becky had come over, and they’d spent hours sitting on the couch watching a movie neither of them had been particularly interested in. They’d sat close, but not touching, the distance between them palpable. At one point, Becky had shifted, her arm brushing against Lucinda’s, and for a moment, Lucinda had felt that old, familiar spark, the one that made her want to forget all the reasons they were supposed to be careful and just fall back into Becky’s arms.

But she hadn’t. They hadn’t .

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to. Lucinda could see the desire in Becky’s eyes every time they were together, the same longing that she felt bubbling just under her own skin. But they’d agreed. No rushing. No falling headfirst without looking at what was below.

They were building something, even if it wasn’t clear yet what that something was.

Lucinda heard the soft buzz of her phone and glanced at it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Becky’s name on the screen. She smiled, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she opened the message.

Becky: U free around 1? Want to grab lunch?

Becky: If ur free.

Becky: No pressure.

Lucinda chuckled softly. Even in her texts, Becky was careful now, not pushing too hard, giving her space.

Lucinda: Lunch sounds great 3

She wanted to see Becky, wanted to sit across from her at lunch and talk about nothing and everything. It wasn’t easy taking things slow, but it felt right. It felt like the only way they could make this work.

As she cleaned up her coffee cup, she thought about how different things felt now. She wasn’t running anymore. She wasn’t trying to control every little aspect of her life to keep herself safe by keeping her distance. She was learning to let go, just a little, to trust that things could unfold at their own pace.

And with Becky, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she didn’t have to rush.

Lucinda dried her hands and took a deep breath. Maybe this was what it meant to truly build something—slow, steady, and with the kind of care that could last. It wasn’t perfect. There were still moments of doubt, of hesitation, but there was also hope. And for now, that was enough.

Lucinda watched as rain began to fall over Phoenix Ridge, wondering where Becky wanted to take her.

The rain had been relentless for days, hammering against the windows like a constant reminder of the growing threat outside. Lucinda stood near the entrance of the Emergency Operations Center, her arms folded tightly across her chest as she listened to the low murmur of the weather reports .

The storm system over Phoenix Ridge was unlike anything the city had seen in decades. The skies had opened up days ago, dumping a torrent of rain that had flooded streets, knocked out power in some neighborhoods, and pushed the infrastructure of the city to its limits. The real danger, though, was the dam near Phoenix Ridge. As the rainfall continued to pummel the area, the dam had become dangerously close to failing.

Lucinda’s thoughts drifted to Becky, who was in another part of the EOC overseeing the emergency response teams. Now, in the midst of the worst storm crisis the city had faced in years, they found themselves side by side again—not as lovers, but as professionals, fighting to save their city.

"Dr. Everett?"

Lucinda turned as one of the junior doctors approached her holding a clipboard and looking frazzled. "The mayor just called in. They’re considering mandatory evacuations. They want us ready to receive an influx of patients from the low-lying areas."

Lucinda nodded, glancing down at the maps spread out on the table in front of her. The low-lying districts had already been heavily impacted by the rain, and if the dam gave way, those areas would be completely submerged.

"Get the emergency response teams prepped," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We need to make sure the hospital is ready to receive patients. Prioritize critical cases and make room where we can. We’re going to be flooded—literally and figuratively."

The doctor nodded and hurried off to relay the orders. Lucinda let out a slow breath, running her fingers through her hair. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her chest, but she was used to it. This was her element: chaos, crisis, and control. Yet the anxiety gnawing at the edges of her mind had nothing to do with the impending disaster and had everything to do with Becky.

Even after two weeks of trying to rebuild their relationship, Lucinda still found herself on edge whenever they were in the same room. There was a tenderness between them, an unspoken understanding that they were both trying to do better, but the scars of their breakup lingered.

She heard the sound of boots on the wet concrete behind her and turned to see Becky approaching, her face grim, her uniform soaked through from the rain outside. Becky always had that effect on her—a mixture of warmth and tension, of longing and restraint.

"Lucinda," Becky said, wiping rain from her brow. "The mayor just confirmed it. They’re issuing mandatory evacuations. We’re going to have to move fast. Roads are already becoming impassable."

Lucinda nodded, glancing at the maps again. "I’ve got the hospital staff prepping for casualties. We’ve already started discharging non-critical patients to free up space."

Becky’s eyes softened just a fraction as they met Lucinda’s. It wasn’t the time for personal conversations, but Lucinda could feel the undercurrent of their shared history pulsing between them. "Good. Let’s hope it holds."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the rain pounding against the roof of the EOC. Outside, the situation was growing worse by the minute. The roads were slick, and reports were coming in about rising water levels across the city. But inside the EOC, there was a strange sense of calm between them.

"I’m worried about the dam," Becky admitted, her voice lower now, as if speaking the words aloud would make the threat more real. "If it fails, we’re looking at a citywide disaster. We can’t evacuate fast enough."

Lucinda swallowed, feeling a pit form in her stomach. "We’ll handle it," she said, her voice steady. "We always do."

Becky’s lips twitched into a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Yeah. We do."

“What’s the current status of the evacuation efforts?” she asked.

Becky shook her head, her expression reflecting the urgency of their predicament. “The evacuations are underway, but the roads are becoming increasingly impassable. The weather is making it difficult to get people out in time.”

Together, Lucinda and Becky worked tirelessly to coordinate the response. The EOC became a command center for managing the escalating crisis, and every decision was crucial. Lucinda was responsible for overseeing the medical supplies and setting up a triage area, while Becky focused on managing the evacuation and coordinating with the media.

The hours dragged on as they dealt with the mounting pressures of the disaster. Despite their exhaustion, the shared goal of navigating the crisis kept them focused. The personal issues that had once stood between them were momentarily set aside as they worked side by side.

As the days progressed, the storm’s fury showed no signs of abating. The rain continued to fall, and the floodwaters rose steadily. Lucinda’s concern grew as the situation worsened. The possibility of the dam breaking became a looming threat that they could no longer ignore.

One afternoon, as Lucinda took a brief respite in the break room, she received an urgent call from Becky. “Lucinda, we need to discuss the dam’s status,” Becky said, her voice carrying a note of apprehension. “It’s showing signs that it might breach within the next few hours.”

The news hit Lucinda like a physical blow. The thought of the dam failing and unleashing a catastrophic flood was a nightmare scenario. She hurried back to the EOC, where Becky and the team were already preparing for the worst.

The storm raged on, and the minutes seemed to stretch into hours. Lucinda busied herself with coordinating hospital resources, trying to keep her mind off the looming disaster. Every so often, she would catch a glimpse of Becky across the room, her presence a steady reminder that even in the midst of a crisis, they were tethered together .

As the hours passed, the EOC became a hive of activity. City officials, emergency response teams, and hospital staff moved with urgency, preparing for the worst. The rain continued to pour, and with each passing moment, the tension in the room thickened.

By evening, the roads leading out of the city were completely flooded, leaving the EOC cut off from the rest of the city. Lucinda stood by the large windows, watching as the water levels rose in the parking lot, the streets outside turning into rivers.

"We’re trapped here," she muttered to herself, though she knew it wasn’t entirely true. The EOC was fortified and equipped to handle situations like this. But the thought of being isolated in this building, with only Becky and a handful of city officials, made her stomach twist.

She turned away from the window just as Becky approached again, her face grim.

"They’ve shut down the roads," Becky said. "No one’s getting in or out tonight."

Lucinda nodded. "We’ll have to hunker down here for now."

Becky’s gaze lingered on her, something unreadable in her expression. "How are you holding up? "

Lucinda hesitated. It was a simple question, but the weight of it hit her harder than she expected. "I’m fine," she said, her voice quieter than before. "Just…trying to focus on the job."

Becky took a step closer, her fingers grazing the back of Lucinda's hand. "We’re doing the best we can."

"I know," Lucinda replied, her voice tight. She looked away, trying to focus on the maps and reports scattered across the table, but the proximity of Becky made it hard to think clearly.

"Lucinda," Becky said softly, her tone shifting, "I know we agreed to take things slow, but...I just need you to know I'm here. I know this isn’t the time, but I don’t want us to keep pretending we’re just colleagues."

Lucinda's chest tightened at the words. She had been avoiding this conversation for weeks, afraid that if they acknowledged their feelings, everything would come rushing back too fast. But now, standing here with Becky, surrounded by chaos, it felt impossible to keep running.

Lucinda wrapped her arms around Becky's waist, Becky's hand cradling the back of Lucinda's head.

"I'm scared," Lucinda admitted .

"Me too," Becky agreed.

They stood there in the dim light of the EOC, the sounds of the storm outside fading into the background as the reality of their situation settled between them. There was no easy fix to what had broken between them, no magic words that would erase the pain of the past. But in this moment, they weren’t just two professionals trying to save a city; they were two people who cared about each other deeply, trying to find comfort in one another.

Lucinda's heart raced as she looked up at Becky, her eyes searching for some reassurance, some sign that they could do this.

"We’ll figure this out," Becky said, her voice steady. "One step at a time."

Lucinda nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "Yeah. One step at a time."

They stood there in the quiet of the EOC, holding on to each other as the storm raged outside, knowing that whatever came next—whether it was the floodwaters or the challenges of their relationship—they would face it together.

The storm that would soon envelop Phoenix Ridge in flood water was not a sudden event. It had been building over weeks, a relentless and unforgiving force that nature had been brewing for some time. The city, known for its usually temperate climate, was now under siege by an unprecedented weather system.

As the hours ticked by, the tension in the EOC was almost unbearable. The floodwaters outside continued to rise, and the situation became increasingly precarious. Lucinda and Becky worked side by side, their focus unwavering despite the mounting stress.

Becky glanced at Lucinda, her face a mask of concern. “We’ve done everything we can. Now we just need to hope that the dam holds long enough for us to get through this.”

Lucinda nodded, her gaze fixed on the monitors displaying the rising water levels.

It was then that the final, ominous alert came through. The engineers had detected a critical failure in the dam’s structure. The floodwaters were now on the verge of breaching the dam, and the EOC was about to become the last line of defense.

“Lucinda, we need to brace for impact,” Becky said, her voice steady but filled with urgency.

“The dam is on the verge of breaking. We have to be ready for whatever comes next.”

Lucinda’s heart raced as she took in the gravity of the situation. The city’s fate rested on the brink of disaster, and the EOC was now a refuge amidst the chaos. The floodwaters were rising fast, and the possibility of the dam breaking overnight loomed large.

As the night settled in and the storm raged on, the EOC was a hive of anxious energy. Lucinda and Becky continued their preparations, their focus on managing the crisis and ensuring the safety of everyone involved. The storm outside was a relentless force, and the possibility of the dam breaking was a constant, terrifying reality.

With the night sky darkened by the storm and the floodwaters rising steadily, the only certainty was the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The dam’s imminent failure was a grim reminder of the fragile balance between safety and catastrophe, and the EOC was now a bastion of hope and resilience in the face of an overwhelming disaster.

The storm outside was a formidable force, and the night stretched out before them with the promise of a new and daunting challenge. Lucinda and Becky faced the unknown together, their shared commitment to managing the crisis a beacon of hope amidst the gathering darkness.